Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Queen of Hearts Brunnera: Silver Leaves for the Shady Side
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Queen of Hearts brunnera is grown mainly for its leaves: big hearts, 5 to 7 inches across, washed almost entirely in metallic silver with thin dark green veins showing through. In a dim spot under trees, it reads like someone left a light on.
Let us be honest up front. Brunnera and lavender want opposite things, so this is not a plant for the lavender bed. It is a companion for the shady half of the same garden, where lavender would never grow.
Queen of Hearts at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Brunnera macrophylla 'Queen of Hearts' |
| Foliage | Large, heart-shaped, metallic silver with dark green veins and a narrow green rim |
| Flowers | Tiny sky-blue sprays on wiry stems about 2 feet tall |
| Size | 16 to 18 inches tall, spreading 2 to 3 feet |
| Bloom | Early to mid-May, for about four weeks |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 8 |
| Light | Part to full shade |
| Deer | Resistant |
Where it fits in a lavender garden
Most properties with a sunny lavender bed also have a north wall, a big maple or a shady path that nothing seems to love. That is where Queen of Hearts earns its keep. Its silver foliage echoes the silver-gray leaves of lavender across the yard, so the two halves of the garden feel related even though they grow in very different conditions.
In spring, its haze of blue flowers lands weeks before lavender blooms, which gives the whole garden an early season of color. Plan both the sunny and shady beds together in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Site: part to full shade in average to rich soil that stays evenly moist.
- Sun: morning light is fine. Afternoon sun scorches the silver leaves.
- Water: steady moisture is the key, especially in the first summer. Water at the base, early in the day, to limit leaf spot in humid weather.
- After bloom: cut faded flower stems to keep the foliage looking clean.
- Pests: watch for slugs and aphids in damp spells.
- Winter: very hardy in Michigan. Keep the crown out of waterlogged soil.
Good shade partners
Queen of Hearts looks best massed along a woodland path or edging a shade bed with ferns, hostas and early bulbs. It also does well in a shaded container, where the leaves can be seen up close.
Tray sizes
It is offered as a 72-cell plug tray for growers and larger plantings, and as a deep 20-cell plug tray with bigger individual plugs. See each product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Can I plant it next to my lavender?
Not in the same bed. Lavender needs hot sun and dry roots, and brunnera needs shade and moisture. Give each its own spot on the property.
Is it the same plant as forget-me-not?
No, though the flowers look similar. Brunnera is a separate perennial, often called Siberian bugloss, and it returns from the same clump each year.
How fast does it fill in?
It forms a broad mound that widens to about 3 feet over a few seasons, which makes it good for massing.
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